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Quality workmanship and finishes

8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago

Hello,

I’m having my house renovated/added on and a new kitchen, mud room, bedroom, and bathroom were built. I am not happy with several aspects of the finished or almost finished product. Below are categories and here’s a link to pictures:

https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/112230077/list/quality-issues


Tiling:
-Kitchen backsplash grout has some holes in it, inconsistent grout widths, tiles not cut with wet saw so there’s chipped edges, Tiling around hood vent
-Bathroom shower grout edges unfinished, very wide grout lines between wall and tile, no grouting in some areas, shower niche shelves not installed
-Mudroom floor has 12 x 24 marble tiles offset by 1/3, lippage several areas far over 1/16,” Space between end of tile and baseboard or visible, tile cut to wrong size and filled with grout, inconsistent grout between the tile and door threshold Space between end of tile and baseboard visible, tile cut to wrong size and filled with grout, inconsistent grout between tile and door threshold

Paint:
The cabinets/doors/trim were sprayed but also used a roller so you can see and feel the difference in the two finishes, Drawer edges rough and not completely painted, caulk drips in frame doors, door face not caulked so open same visible, pocket door interior trim not painted or sanded, exterior doors only primed or one coat of paint rolled so there’s a color difference

Hardwood floor (red oak on screeting)
Gap between door frame and hardwood, Brussels or sawdust in topcoat, quarter round not flush against floor, visible gap between hardwood and trim edges, knotholes rough even after putty and poly, squeaks and a feeling of hollowness in areas, stair tread seems not caulked, quarter round miter joints inconsistent

Cabinets (inset):
-Kitchen cabinets have large gap between inset drawer and frame, inconsistent gap on sides of doors/drawers, protrusion past the frame face, nails visible where the carpenter missed the wood, nail and staple holes not filled, hardware screws splintered not filled, nail/screw head pop outs, pull out pantry almost in operable
-Bathroom stained wood bathroom cabinets have splintered area filled with putty
-Mudroom washer and dryer boxes have gaps between the wall

Drywall seams visible
Nail/screw head pop outs
Countertop edges not caulked on top or underneath
Holes left in backyard from electrical and plumbing trenches dug not filled in completely
Weird electrical situation under kitchen sink
Drywall texture not well done (roll on)

Please let me know if I’m being persnickety about these things. If they are reasonable to be fixed, what’s he best way so I know what I’m talking about when I have professionals come in to bid.

Much thanks!

Comments (44)

  • 8 years ago

    No links or pictures are included. Just as an FYI, post as many pics as possible as many people will not click links.

  • 8 years ago

    Pictures have to be jpgs. Nothing else uploads.

  • 8 years ago

    A 300-600K project like that should have a Designer involved to help you project manage everything, including being a liaison for quality control with the contractor. What has your designer said about the perceived quality issues?

  • 8 years ago


    I have been very clear with my contractor and asking for these things to be fixed. Either they have tried to fix them and it's still not done or it's been put off "accidentally."


    I have also been clear about the quality I expect and was never told it would be a problem. About a week ago my contractor told me the finishes I expected were of a higher quality than the budget demanded.


    I had 3 other companies come in today. While they were hesitant to criticize another professional, they all said they would not be have this be their final product. One contractor came in today and said the workmanship was not up to snuff, a cabinet maker said it wasn’t good quality or precision and he recommends having new fronts made but overlay, and a second contractor said he would give it a “B” for handmade cabinets.

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    Gap between door frame and floor

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    Stain on quarter round

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    Quarter round corners

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    Caulking missing

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    Pocket door

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    Cabinet door seam

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    Gap inconsistency

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    Drawers protruding

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    Tile edging, grout

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    Grout thickness differences

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    Tile edging

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    Side of hood vent

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    Side of hood vent

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    Floor lippage

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    Dryer vent, gap between wall and cabinet bottom

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    Tile grout

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    Threshold grout

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    Cabinet, countertop edging

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    Stair caulking

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    Quarter round

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    Gap inconsistency, protruding, rubbing

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    Closet drawer screw hole

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    Shower entrance toe kick

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    Shower tile edging, ceiling

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    Crown moulding

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    Shower tile edging

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    Bathtub drain

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    Shower floor/wall grout

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    Shower tile edging, ceiling

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    Shower tile edging, ceiling

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    Threshold

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    Drywall corner

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    Door rolled finish instead of spray

  • 8 years ago

    I would be LIVID, we have a new build and there have been some issues, but IMO some of those especially the cabinetry issues are a big deal and would have me super mad. Did you pay with a credit card by chance perhaps you can file a dispute with them for the cabinetry at least? That you have received a non functioning properly item? I would send those pics to the head of the company and ask if he would have these cabinets in his showroom. I am assuming the answer from him would be a no! I hope they fix all those things for you, the grout would be a huge deal for me as well because it looks especially problematic because of the dark grout. I don't know how to offer any help but I feel for you and hope they take care of those things! I mean there is a crack on the side of the hood vent, they need to fix that, that's awful.... Good luck... I feel like if you paid by credit card you may have some recourse, if not Better Business Bureau maybe, possible state Attorney General office for consumer complaints? And by all means, if they don't rectify to your satisfaction, review review review EVERYWHERE like yelp, google, fb etc!

  • 8 years ago

    All these problems didn't happen overnight. Why OP allowed the project to continue when issues starting cropping up is beyond me.